By Mbabazi Busingye | Project leader
Human Rights First Rwanda Association organized a two day workshop with various stake holders who included actors in the health sector, religious persons and policy makers with the aim of Creating an enabling environment where LGBT people and persons with HIV enjoy the basic rights of equality, privacy, personal autonomy and freedom of expression and association. This means a Rwanda where people can live openly without discrimination, where there’s respect for sexual minority identities, relationships and families, and where there’s fair treatment in employment, schools, housing, public places, healthcare and government programs
During the Worksop it was revealed that Key populations in the context of HIV - including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and transgender people and their partners are at high risk for HIV, LGBT persons face widespread discrimination and sometimes violence from societal actors.
In response to the findings it was revealed that there is a political will favourable to the debate and public policy development for LGBT persons, Proof of the claim are the current Ministry of health actions in support of these policies on HIV/AIDS for Men Having Sex with Men. This enables the development and implementation of governmental action and social awareness around these issues, particularly in the context of public health.
However having political will is one thing, the actions of Health workers and the Society create Homophobia, discrimination and fear of the LGBT community to access services including health, justice and reporting violence.
At the conclusion of the workshop it was agreed that more discussions and debate surrounding the LGBT community should be continued since what affects them including HIV exposure and discrimination is a risk to the whole society in general.
By Mbabazi Busingye | Programs Manager
By Mbabazi Busingye | Programs Manager
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